Ranger Chocolate Co. - Salitral Morropan Peru Dark Chocolate Bar 75% - Aug. 17, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Co.
Salitral Morropon Peru Dark Chocolate Bar 75% 
Good ++
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 348 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ranger Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Salitral Morropon Peru Dark Chocolate Bar 75% (Batch #4), from Ranger Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR), was made from Salitral Criollo cacao beans from Peru.

This bar was made with cacao from the Morropon Province in the Piura Region of northwestern Peru.

Aroma and flavor notes included: subtle dark chocolate, fruit (red raspberry), very faint cream, stone fruit (peach) and earth/tobacco. 

The subtle, creamy cacao and fruit notes became even more luscious when tasting (vs. just smelling this chocolate). The finish was clean and relatively long--with extremely faint oolong tea, clean mineral/tea notes.

Texture: Smooth, creamy, and well-tempered.

I enjoyed the gently complex and creamy taste and texture. I also appreciated the thoughtfully sourced Peruvian cacao; short list of (just two) ingredients; and continuing to consider fair trade: "Always Fair Trade -- or better"

Maker's Tasting Notes: "peanut, graham cracker, raspberry" ..."During our visit to Peru, farmers...shared numerous varieties of cacao...Salitral, a Criollo varietal, was a clear standout for its bold fruit flavors."

Ingredients: "organic cacao, organic sugar"

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that uses gluten, egg, milk, tree nut and sesame ingredients"

 

Ranger Chocolate - Piura Northern Peru Dark Chocolate Bar 74% - Aug. 16, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Co.
Piura Northern Peru Dark Chocolate Bar 74%
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.25 oz. (64 g.) in total bar
Calories: 349 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $16.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ranger Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Piura Northern Peru Dark Chocolate Bar 74% (Batch #7)--from Ranger Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR)--was made using cacao beans grown in the Alto Piura Valley of the Piura Region in northwest Peru.

Piura cacaos include prized heritage Criollos/Criollo variety blends.

Aroma notes included: dark chocolate with fruit (red fruit, berry), very subtle earth.

Texture: creamy, smooth, velvety. 

Flavor notes (right after being unwrapped) included: dark chocolate with fruit (red berry, citrus); damp soil; medium fruity acidity; a medium bitterness level (for a Criollo cacao); and fleeting very faint smoke, oolong tea and cookie toward the finish.

I enjoyed the relatively bold and complex flavor profile and the very smooth texture. And I appreciated: the short list of two, organic ingredients, and the company's commitment to thoughtful sourcing ("Always Fair Trade -- or better."). 

Maker's Tasting Notes: "cacao pulp, wine, tobacco, black cherry"

Maker story: "This rare white Criollo cacao produces a well balanced chocolate with a smooth finish."

Ingredients: organic cacao, organic sugar

Allergen-related information: "Manufactured in a facility that uses gluten, egg, milk and tree nut ingredients."

 

Ranger Chocolate - Piura Blond Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar) - Aug. 15, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Ranger Chocolate Co.
Piura Blond Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 2.15 oz. (61 g.) in total bar
Calories: 310 calories (estimate) in 1 bar
Cost: $18.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Ranger Chocolate, online order

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Piura Blond Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar), from Ranger Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR), was made using cacao beans from northern Peru. 

Piura is a coastal department and region in northwestern Peru. The gentler, more subtle Piura cacaos can be similar to prized heritage Criollo/Criollo blends. I loved the opportunity to try this chocolate on the blond side.*

Aroma notes included: very faint coconut milk chocolate, vanilla and caramel/brown sugar notes. 

This chocolate smelled less acidic and bitter, and more like a sweet confection.

Texture: creamy smooth. (You'd be forgiven if you thought this might be a milk chocolate in a blind blond tasting, due to its buttery mouthfeel.)

Flavor notes included: velvety, warm cocoa, with vanilla, coconut, caramel and barely detectable honeyed chamomile. There was a tiny amount of sea salt added (that I couldn't taste), but it likely helped balance the inherent and layered sweetness of this bar.

I appreciated this incredibly smooth-textured, less acidic and virtually bitter-free chocolate. The lower percent (60% cacao) content made this delicate cacao-based chocolate taste like a very high-end confection with the added brown sugar, vanilla and coconut. 

Ingredients: organic cacao, brown sugar (sugar, molasses), coconut, vanilla bean, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: tree nut (coconut)"

*Blond(e) cacao or chocolate can refer to a caramelized light or white chocolate (with milk), or chocolate made with white-colored beans, making this adjective slightly confusing. Light-colored beans, especially Criollo beans in South American Amazon Basin countries, when cut open, can be white-ish, or pink-ish vs. a darker, purplish variegated hue found in bolder Forastero varieties.

Goodio - Fennel 49% Cacao (bar) - Aug. 14, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Goodio 
Fennel 49% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $6.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Caputo's, online order 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Peru Theme Week.

Today's Goodio "Fennel" 49% Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven Oy (Vantaa, Finland). The company offers a variety of bars, and some include Nordic flavor inclusions -- made "by a team of magical artists." (To which I would add the term "hearts and crafts": ones who create with their hearts and who are skilled in their craft.)

Today's bar was crafted using "Peruvian fine cacao."

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweeter/mellower (Criollo-like) dark chocolate, coconut, faint (diffuse) fruit, and faint, sweet, almost floral, herb (fennel extract/pollen).

Texture: relatively smooth, sweet (very faintly granular/sugary) fudge softness in the texture, with slight textural richness from flavor inclusions (perhaps the coconut flakes and the fennel).

The tiny upticks of fennel flavor were relatively gentle. The coconut harmonized with the Peruvian cacao-based chocolate and the fennel. The result was a balanced, naturally sweet blend. 

I continue to appreciate Goodio's choice to use a short list of thoughtfully sourced, high-quality, organic ingredients in their chocolates.

Maker's description: "A delicate touch of licorice from fennel combined with Peruvian fine cacao for (a) balanced flavor combination..."

Ingredients: "Cacao beans*, Coconut palm sugar*, Cacao butter*, Coconut flakes*, Birch sugar (Xylitol), Fennel*. (*Organic)."

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts (cashew)." "Dairy, gluten & soy free" 

Kessho Craft Chocolate - Raspberry Dark Chocolate 57% Cacao Semuliki Forest Uganda (bar) - Aug. 13, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Kessho Craft Chocolate
Raspberry Dark Chocolate 57% Cacao Semuliki Forest Uganda (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.1 oz. (60 g.) in total bar
Calories: 164 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar
Cost: $12.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Kessho, online order 

Welcome to Day #17 of Chocolate, Berries & Cherries Theme Week.

Today's Raspberry Dark Chocolate 57% Cacao Semuliki Forest Uganda (bar) was handcrafted by Kessho Craft Chocolate and distributed by Kessho, LLC in Austin, TX.

Aroma notes included: Red berries (red raspberry) and smooth dark chocolate.

Texture: uniformly smooth, fudge-like texture with a relatively rapid, creamy melt. The raspberry powder was fully incorporated into the chocolate.

Flavor notes for this single origin cacao chocolate included: relatively smooth, tart-sweet, red raspberry, dark chocolate and very faint warm spice. 

The red raspberry flavor was authentically vibrant and was the star of the show--to the point where it eclipsed possible underlying nuances of the Uganda (hybrid Trinitario and Forastero) cacao. There were no obvious bitter or off notes in the slightly fudge-y, 57% dark chocolate; but any fruit or floral notes in the cacao were topped by raspberries/lower percentage of cacao.

I appreciated the use of single origin cacao and the short list of only four ingredients.

Maker's tasting notes: "Red berries, rose petals and chocolate fudge"

Ingredients: "Whole cacao beans, sugar, cocoa butter, raspberry powder"

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that also processes milk, tree nuts, wheat, sesame and eggs."

 

Goodio - Red Berries 49% Cacao (bar) - Aug. 12, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Goodio 
Red Berries 49% Cacao (bar)
Good ++ 
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) in total bar
Calories: 270 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $11.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Dispensary, online order 

Welcome to Day #16 of Chocolate, Berries & Cherries Theme Week.

Today's Goodio "Red Berries 49% Cacao (bar) was manufactured by Helsinki Heaven Oy (Vantaa, Finland). The company offers a variety of bars, and some include Nordic flavor inclusions -- made "by a team of magical artists." (Hearts and crafts: a team with heart that also know their craft.)

Aroma and flavor notes included: sweeter/mellower (Criollo-like) dark chocolate, coconut and fruity (red berries: raspberry, strawberry).

Texture: relatively smooth, fudge-y softness in the texture, with slight textural richness from flavor inclusions.

I liked the way the coconut harmonized with the chocolate and red berries and was not too overwhelming. I also appreciated Goodio's thoughtful use of a short list of quality, organic ingredients.

Maker's description: "One more chocolate for the road. Premium craft chocolate sprinkled with organic raspberries and strawberries."

Ingredients: "Cacao beans*, Coconut palm sugar*, Cacao butter*, Coconut flakes*, Strawberry*, Raspberry*. (*Organic)."

Allergen-related information: "May contain traces of nuts (cashew)." "Dairy, gluten & soy free" 

Monkey Brittle - Coconut, Cacao, Bananas & Sea Salt (pieces) - Aug. 11, 2025

Chocolate of the Day

Huggins Family Farms

Monkey Brittle - Coconut, Cacao, Bananas, Sea Salt 

Good ++ 
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total package 
Calories: 120 calories in 1/2 package 
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Farm Fresh, online order 

Welcome to Day #15 of Chocolate, Berries & Cherries Theme Week.

What is a banana + cacao offering doing in a chocolate, berry and cherry themed week? Believe it or not, bananas are, technically, berries.

Today's "Monkey Brittle" with coconut, cacao, bananas and nuts was from Huggins Family Farms (Hood River, OR).

Aroma notes included: fruity (banana bread), nutty and light cocoa and coconut.

Texture: unique and very light-weight, thin crunchy cookie-like brittle. Think banana-bread-nut brownie wafers.

Flavor notes for these wafer-thin brittle pieces included: light cocoa, banana nut bread and subtle coconut.

I was surprised and delighted by the complexity ?? lightness? suitable as a quick meal (breakfast on the go) or a portable snack for a walk/hike... short list of authentic and organic ingredients (with no gums, preservatives or "natural flavors").

Maker's notes? "Coconuts, Cacao, Bananas, Nuts, Raisins, Sea Salt...& Absolutely Nothing Else."

Ingredients: "Organic Bananas, Organic Tree Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts), Organic Raisins, Organic Coconut, Organic Cocoa, Sea Salt"

Allergen-related information: Contains Tree Nuts (Almonds, Walnuts), Coconuts.